nelsen



AI. N. NELSEN.

LIFE SAVING BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.`22.I9I1.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

N Ihm A. N. NELSEN.

LIFE SAVING BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-22,191?.

l 32 1 54 1 Patented Nov. 11, 1919 2 SHEETS-SHEEY 2,.

\ extend aslant outwardly from the. top andv bottomA walls of said hull and are joined at UNITED STATESA PATENroFFrcE..

ALFRED IN'. NELSN, OF LONG- BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

l LIFE-SAVING Boar.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, ALFRED N. NELsEN,v

a.citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the/,county lof-lhos Angeles and State of California,` have invented a new and useful Life-Saving "Boat, of which the following is a specification.

' An object of my inventionY is to provide a life boat capable of superior service 1n point of buoyancy, strength, equilibrium and, ma-l nipulation rlhis invention is regarded asbroadly newl and pioneer in that my life-saving boat comprises a practicallyflat bottomed hull bound. ed by upper and lower curved surfaces that the perimeter' of the vboat `and ,constitute 4side floats for said hull forming an edge at the rim ofthe boat between parallel planes eX- tending across the boat at the bottom and top of the hull respectively, the principle being that the sides thus constructedl make the boat non-capsizable, said surfaces prac tically forming fenders to receive and shed the waves. d

Another feature is the provision of a central removable air compartment.

Another feature is the provision of removable spray hood compartments adapted to contain food and to serve as tarpaulin supports. .v

lAnother feature is the provision of wheels for the hull to run upon the beach.. ,y

Another feature is the provision of a horizontal keel board abovel the level of the wheelf bases. f

Another feature is the provision of a folding drag or retarder.

Other objects, advantages and features of novelty may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail'description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, f

Figure l is a top plan, partly in section,

' of a life boat embodying the principles of i 3 1s' a cross section on line .'vF'igs'.' 1 an 2. t -l Fig. 4 1s a, fr'agfmental bottom plan View en 'a reduced scale'f y Specicaton of Letters Patient.v Patented NOV, 11,1919,

y appucajtion mea January 22, 1917. seria; No. 143,837.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the complete boat. Removable'spray hoods at both ends are detached and not shown.

Y Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation. v

Fig. 7' is an enlarged cross-sectional 4detail on line m7, Fig. '5.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation viewed left of Fig. 5. v

The first and most conspicuous feature of the hull lof my life boat is the fact that the hull is completely bounded by two curved surfaces, the upper surface 2 and the lower surface, meeting at sharp angles and forming a continuous horizontal edge 4, the width of the hull being greater than the depth on any crossesectional line, and the upper surface being substantially straight longitudinally. A reinforcement 5 is applied to from the vcover the edge 4 all the way around. ln

side elevation the edge 4 curves upwardly to .the ends.` rlhe shell or outer frame 6 is may be made of lsheet metal.

The meeting line or edge 4 o f the two curved surfaces is about halfl way up from the, bottom or half way down from the top at any given vertical plane.

By this combination with a practically flat bottomed hull, of the upper and lower slanting surfaces 2, 3, meeting at the rim of the .boat intermediate parallel planes that eX- tend respectively across the boat at the bot tion of the slanting surfaces will either be divided. by such sharp edgeor will pass under the flat bottom. lf the wave is divided between its crest and base, the weight of the crest 'of the wave is applied to the top surface .and counteracts the lifting action of the lower part of the wave. lf, on the contrary, the wave strikes only the underside of the surface 3 on the side of the hull the capsizing effect is resisted, ,first b the buoyancy of the float on the other sidi of lthe hull, and second, immediately there# after, by the baseo'frthe waveitself, which :passes under the fiat bottom'. Furthermore,

the slanting under-surface on the side oppo` site that whlchE receives the impact of the'l shown/'constructed of wood, but obviously'it Wave meets with the resistance if the water boat from being stove in.

The inner frame Stringer walls 7 and 8 are mounted substantially in vertical positions edgewise and extend from end to end in the hull in straight parallel lines; Actually for convenience and strength these walls are slightly flared outwardly as they l proceed upwardly from the bottom.

Cross braces 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 extend outwardly from the Walls 7 and 8 tothe outer frame or shell 6y at both sides, thus forming compartments for .the removable air tight tanks 14, 15, 16, 17, these compartments andtanks being substantially triangular in,

cross-section; the outer angle and the'inner side, being practically bisected by the horizontal plane in which the` edge 4 lies when the boat is on an even keel. The sections 18, 19 of the outer frame 6 which cover these compartments are made removable to rovide access to the tanks, and are hel in place by screws 6. APerforated cross-walls 20 and 21 are inserted between the ends of the Stringer walls 7 and 8 near their ends and togethertherewith and the hulls 1 form compartments to receive the tanks 22 and 23 for fresh water or ballast. The sections 24 and 25 of the outer frame above these tanks areJ removable. Second cross-walls 26 and 27 are inserted inside of the walls 2O and 21 and form the cock-pit 28 between the walls 26 and 27 and form the kit-rooms 29 and 30 outside of said walls. The carryin wheels 31 extend through the lower she into the kit-rooms 29 and v30. The central air tank 32 Ais placed upon the bottom of the cock-pit 28, there being vertical longitudinal walls 33 and 34 upon the sides of this air tank extending from end to end of the cockpit and a removable cover 35' over the tank secured by screws 35.

'Inside cock pit bottom stringers 33 made of light strong wood about two or more inches thick according to the size ofthe boat are very solidly secured in place alongside the air tank walls 33, 34 and between the same and the stringer walls 7, 8, and fill the spaces between the bottoms of walls 7 and 33 and 8 and 34; to which walls. and the bottom of the shell 6 they are fastened by galvanized iron nails or other suitable fastenings.

Hin ed covers 36 and 37 secured by buttons 3 are provided for the kit-rooms. Cleats 38 are fixed crosswisef upon the air.

.kit-room and 1s attached to the boat, said the hull and are substantially alike.

tank cover 35 and a strip of canvas 38 extudinally of the boat from near the front pair of land wheels 31 to near the rear pair of wheels Aupon the lower face of the bottom; said runners serving somewhat as a keel and serving to protect the bottom. The keel-board 40 iS a heavy sheet metal plate having rounded ends and fixed horizontally below the center of the hull and above the line of the wheel bases so as not to drag on the ground when the hull is on bottom or land' and running upon the wheels. The horizontal keel-board 40 is spaced from the boat bottom by the central runner; and its ends and its lateral edges 40 are free to cut the water and to catch thereon to resist capsizing action.

The swinging drag 41 is a plate of heavy sheet metal and is secured to the lower face of the bottom behind the rear wheels by suitable means as staples 42; said staples being long enough to allow a space between the pivoted edge of the folded drag and the boat bottom, so that the drag may cut the water as theboat runs forward and may gather water so as to serve as the keel-board 40 when folded, thus to assist in resisting capsizing forces. A cord 43 is attached to the free end of the drag 41 and passes upwardly through the hull bottom into the cord being long enough to allow the drag to swing backwardly to a horizontal position when the cord is let out.

The s ray hoods 44 and 45 are removably mounte upon the top sides of the endrs1` pf` 1e hood bottoms 46 tthe upper surface 2 of the hull beyond the kit-rooms 29 and 30, and hook-shaped lian es 47 extend from the bottoms `46 outwar ly around the reinforce- 115 ment 5 to hold the hoods firmly seated. The hood heads 48 extend upwardly from the inner ends of the bottoms 46 cross-wise of the hulls and the hood covers 49 are secured to the` edges of the heads 48 and complete :120 theA compartments 50. Manliole constructions 51, which may be closed airtight, provide access to the compartments and when closed, exclude water therefrom. The hoods may be removed by slidin .fore and aft, respectively outwardly an may be held in place by bolts, hooks or by eyes 52 or other suitable constructions.

The heaving lines 53 may be stored in the forward kit-rooms and the heaving linein-ches in diameter. This buoy attached toa line may be heaVedseventy-iive feet, and itl weighs two or three pounds.

boat in davits on board ship.

rlhe inside cock-pitv bottom strlngers 33 give great strength and rigidity to the shell and the stringers to which they are fastened. They also assist in giving stability to the boat by adding to the weight in the bottom of the boat evenly balanced on opposite sides of the central longitudinal air chamber., Said stringers are desirably madeof red-wood, or 4other strong wood that is lighter than water and "which will be buoyant in water, though heavier than the air compartments alongside and above the level The lifeboat thus produced has lbeen `well tried on the beach and in the breakers.

.'lhe boat without the hood has been put into a rising comber, just as it breaks at its fastest speed, withtwo men paddling, the bow end projecting about eighteen inches from top of com bcr or breaker., lt can be paddled at any angle into the breaker Without 'capsizing When runningl broadside with speed or lying calm, the comber's break over the boat and it rises immediately without capsizing. The long shear, strai ht and flat surface at the bow enables the oat to slide gently and safely without shearingor breaking.

The drag hangs loosely under the stern when the boat is about to come in before the breakers. Pulling the drag cord ten or twelve inches pulls 'the drag forward and holds the boat until it straightens and then lets go again. The drag may be ulled forward up to the bottom 'of the oat when going out over the breakers, there being a.' slight opening between the drag and the bottom of the boatsothat the water runs through without much resistance and in this way the drag serves as an additional keel board.

rllhe keel board takes the place of a when 11nv board and holds the boat steady der way.

lThe boat may be equipped with sails, or

the double paddles may be used, or ity may be provided with machinery, vfor use on ships, yachts and launches, aswell as for use on a beach. l

The land wheels are a great advantage for life saving purposes as theyjjallow the boat to be pushed forward easily' and gotten under way' so as to dash through breakers.

The life vlines 57 may be attached at their ends to the ends lof the hull and swing along` Hooks 56 are iXed in the kit-rooms to receiv'e ropes -or hooks for hanging the life Ithe hull as of great importance.

rlhe peculiar construction and shape of the hull well adapts the hull to withstand blows and pressure against the sides or ends. A wave or 'breaker striking from any direction is cleft horizontally as with'a knife. The edge projects beyond the body in every direction and an impact force is evenly divided up and down. Thisl protects the boa't in striking the sides of a ship, a dock or the like.

The tarpaulin 59 may be drawn over, the top of the hull and engaged by the buttons 60 on the' hoods at the ends ofthe boat s o as to give protection to passengers in case of ship wreck at sea.

l claim: l. A hull, practically flat bottomed, formed by an uppera'nd lower curvilinear shell the edges of vwhich meet at a sharp aigle to form an outwardly projecting e ge., V

2. A hull practicallyflat-bottomed, formed by an upper and a lower curvilinear shell the edges of-which meet at a sharp angle to form an outwardly projecting edge, said hull being substantially wider than its height.

'3. A hull practically flat bottomed formed by an upper and lower curvilinearnshell the bythe combination of an upper and lower curvilinear shell the edges of which meet 'at a sharp angle to forman outwardly projectingedge, vertical Stringer walls between .the shells from end to end, andA means forming air ti ht compartments outside the Stringer wa ls.

6. A hull `comprising an outer lower form j an outwardlyl projecting edge, said,

curving upwardlytoward the curved shell, -an outer upper curved shell meeting the lower shell at the perimeter of the boat said shells lbeing spaced from each other at their` rims, vertical Stringer walls between the spaced recess of said shells from end to end, cifoss.walls between .the

stringer walls and forming a cockpit, and lac an air tight compartment extending longitudinally at the transverse center of the cockpit.. 7. A hull comprising n outer lower curved shell, an outer upper curved shell meeting the lower curved shell at the perimeter of the boat and spaced apart at their rims, Ivertical stringer walls between the spaced rims ofthe shells from end to end, cross walls between the stringer walls and forming a cockpit, and an air tight compartment extending longitudinallyv at the transverse center of the cockpit, and means forming removable compartments beyond the ends of the cockpit.

8. A hull, and a drag comprising a plate centrally hinged to the bottom of the hull on a transverse line.

9. A hull, and a drag comprising -a Hat plate .centrally hinged to the bottom of the hull on a transverse line and meansfor operating the drag.

10. A hullbounded by two curved'surfaces meeting onhorizonta-l planes anda drag comprising a flat plate centrally hinged to the -bottom of the hull on a transverse line and means for operating the drag.'

11. A hull and a spray hood compartment removably mounted upon the end of the hullv the end of said hull extending underneath said spray hood.

12. A hull having a cock-pit, an air tight compartment extending longitudinally in lthe cock-pit, transverse cleats extending up- 'flat' curved shell, an upper curved shell meeting the lower curved shell to form anV outwardly projecting edge, vertical Stringer walls between the shells from end to end and forming compartments outside of the Stringer walls, said compartments"l being triangular in cross-section, thick wooden inside cockpit bottom. stringers fastened to the shell and spaced to receive between them, an air tank, and extending along and fastened to v said stringers.

14. A hull comprising an outer lower curved shell, an outer upper curved shell meeting theJ lower shell to form an outwardly projecting edge, vertical Stringer 'walls between theV shells from end to end,

cross walls between the Stringer walls and forming a cock-pit, an air tight compartment extending longitudinally at the transverse center of the cock-pit, and inside bottom cock-pit stringers fastened to the floor and to Stringer walls and to the walls of the longitudinal air tight compartment walls.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set vmy hand at Los Angeles, California, this 9th day of January, 1917.

f ALFRED N.-NELSEN.

Witness:

J AMES R. ,TowNsnNn 

